Read a CSV File in C#

Why Should I Use NuGet Package Manager?

• In Visual Studio, select the Project menu
• Manage NuGet Packages
• Search for IronXL.Excel
• Install

Figure 1 - IronXL.Excel NuGet Package

What Are Alternative Installation Methods?

Or download from the Iron Software website: https://ironsoftware.com/csharp/excel/packages/IronXL.zip

For .NET developers working with Docker containers, IronXL can be configured in your Docker environment. The library also supports deployment on Azure Functions and AWS Lambda for cloud-based CSV processing.

How to Tutorial

What Namespace Do I Need to Import?

Add the IronXL namespace:

// This namespace is required to access the IronXL functionalities
using IronXL;

// This namespace is required to access the IronXL functionalities
using IronXL;

' This namespace is required to access the IronXL functionalities
Imports IronXL

How Do I Load and Convert CSV Files?

Add code to read a CSV file programmatically with IronXL and C#:

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/csharp-read-csv-read.cs

// Load the CSV file into a WorkBook object, specifying the file path, format, and delimiter
WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("Read_CSV_Ex.csv", fileFormat: ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, listDelimiter: ",");

// Access the default worksheet within the loaded workbook
WorkSheet ws = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet;

// Save the workbook as an Excel file with a specified name
workbook.SaveAs("Csv_To_Excel.xlsx");

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What Advanced CSV Reading Options Are Available?

IronXL provides features for handling CSV files with various configurations. You can specify different delimiters (semicolons, tabs, pipes) and handle files with different encodings:

// Example: Reading CSV with custom delimiter and encoding
WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("data.csv", 
    fileFormat: ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, 
    listDelimiter: ";",  // Using semicolon as delimiter
    encoding: Encoding.UTF8);

// Access specific cells after loading
var cellValue = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet["A1"].Value;

// Iterate through rows
foreach (var row in workbook.DefaultWorkSheet.Rows)
{
    // Process each row
    foreach (var cell in row)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(cell.Value);
    }
}

// Example: Reading CSV with custom delimiter and encoding
WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("data.csv", 
    fileFormat: ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, 
    listDelimiter: ";",  // Using semicolon as delimiter
    encoding: Encoding.UTF8);

// Access specific cells after loading
var cellValue = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet["A1"].Value;

// Iterate through rows
foreach (var row in workbook.DefaultWorkSheet.Rows)
{
    // Process each row
    foreach (var cell in row)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(cell.Value);
    }
}

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What Does the CSV File Look Like Before Processing?

Figure 2 - A CSV file opened in Notepad

How Does LoadCSV Method Work?

A Workbook object is created. The LoadCSV method of the Workbook object specifies the CSV file to read, the format to read it into, and the delimiter. In this case, a comma is used as a separator.

A Worksheet object is created where the CSV contents are placed. The file is then saved under a new name and format. This process is useful when you need to convert between different spreadsheet formats.

Figure 3 - The CSV file opened in Excel

Can I Process Large CSV Files Efficiently?

IronXL is optimized for performance and handles large CSV files efficiently. For developers working with substantial datasets, the library offers significant performance improvements in recent versions. When processing large files, consider these best practices:

// Reading large CSV files with memory optimization
WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("large_dataset.csv", 
    fileFormat: ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, 
    listDelimiter: ",");

// Process data in chunks
var worksheet = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet;
int rowCount = worksheet.RowCount;
int batchSize = 1000;

for (int i = 0; i < rowCount; i += batchSize)
{
    // Process rows in batches
    var endIndex = Math.Min(i + batchSize, rowCount);
    for (int j = i; j < endIndex; j++)
    {
        var row = worksheet.GetRow(j);
        // Process individual row
    }
}

// Reading large CSV files with memory optimization
WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("large_dataset.csv", 
    fileFormat: ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, 
    listDelimiter: ",");

// Process data in chunks
var worksheet = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet;
int rowCount = worksheet.RowCount;
int batchSize = 1000;

for (int i = 0; i < rowCount; i += batchSize)
{
    // Process rows in batches
    var endIndex = Math.Min(i + batchSize, rowCount);
    for (int j = i; j < endIndex; j++)
    {
        var row = worksheet.GetRow(j);
        // Process individual row
    }
}

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How Can I Export CSV Data to Other Formats?

After reading CSV files, you might need to export the data to various formats. IronXL supports multiple export options including XLSX to CSV conversion, JSON, XML, and HTML. Here's how to export to different formats:

// Load CSV and export to multiple formats
WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("input.csv", ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, ",");

// Export to different formats
workbook.SaveAs("output.xlsx"); // Excel format
workbook.SaveAsJson("output.json"); // JSON format
workbook.SaveAsXml("output.xml"); // XML format

// Export specific worksheet to CSV with custom delimiter
workbook.DefaultWorkSheet.SaveAs("output_custom.csv", ";");

// Load CSV and export to multiple formats
WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("input.csv", ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, ",");

// Export to different formats
workbook.SaveAs("output.xlsx"); // Excel format
workbook.SaveAsJson("output.json"); // JSON format
workbook.SaveAsXml("output.xml"); // XML format

// Export specific worksheet to CSV with custom delimiter
workbook.DefaultWorkSheet.SaveAs("output_custom.csv", ";");

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What About Working with CSV Data in Web Applications?

For ASP.NET developers, IronXL provides seamless integration for reading CSV files in web applications. You can upload and process CSV files in your MVC or Web API projects:

// Example: Processing uploaded CSV file in ASP.NET
public ActionResult UploadCSV(HttpPostedFileBase file)
{
    if (file != null && file.ContentLength > 0)
    {
        // Save uploaded file temporarily
        var fileName = Path.GetFileName(file.FileName);
        var path = Path.Combine(Server.MapPath("~/App_Data/"), fileName);
        file.SaveAs(path);

        // Load and process CSV
        WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV(path, ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, ",");

        // Convert to DataTable for easy display
        var dataTable = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet.ToDataTable();

        // Clean up temporary file
        System.IO.File.Delete(path);

        return View(dataTable);
    }
    return RedirectToAction("Index");
}

// Example: Processing uploaded CSV file in ASP.NET
public ActionResult UploadCSV(HttpPostedFileBase file)
{
    if (file != null && file.ContentLength > 0)
    {
        // Save uploaded file temporarily
        var fileName = Path.GetFileName(file.FileName);
        var path = Path.Combine(Server.MapPath("~/App_Data/"), fileName);
        file.SaveAs(path);

        // Load and process CSV
        WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV(path, ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, ",");

        // Convert to DataTable for easy display
        var dataTable = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet.ToDataTable();

        // Clean up temporary file
        System.IO.File.Delete(path);

        return View(dataTable);
    }
    return RedirectToAction("Index");
}

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How Do I Handle CSV Files with Complex Data?

When working with CSV files containing formulas, special characters, or mixed data types, IronXL provides robust handling capabilities. You can work with formulas and format cell data appropriately:

// Handle CSV with special requirements
WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("complex_data.csv", 
    ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, 
    listDelimiter: ",");

var worksheet = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet;

// Apply formatting to cells
worksheet["A1:A10"].Style.Font.Bold = true;
worksheet["B1:B10"].FormatString = "$#,##0.00"; // Currency format

// Add formulas after loading CSV data
worksheet["D1"].Formula = "=SUM(B1:B10)";

// Handle CSV with special requirements
WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("complex_data.csv", 
    ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, 
    listDelimiter: ",");

var worksheet = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet;

// Apply formatting to cells
worksheet["A1:A10"].Style.Font.Bold = true;
worksheet["B1:B10"].FormatString = "$#,##0.00"; // Currency format

// Add formulas after loading CSV data
worksheet["D1"].Formula = "=SUM(B1:B10)";

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Library Quick Access

IronXL API Reference Documentation

Learn more and share how to merge, unmerge, and work with cells in Excel spreadsheets using the handy IronXL API Reference Documentation.

IronXL API Reference Documentation